North West

Secretary: Dawn Neville email mountaindawn_at_btinternet.com

North West District report for 2018

The North West District covers a large geographical area and has 15 members. During 2018 members took part in a variety of Guild ringing activities but unfortunately didn’t meet in the District as often as in previous years. We held a meeting on 29th September in the Stockton Heath area, organised by Wendy Fryer. NW District members took part in the 10 bell QP day at St Clement Danes and the QP weekend at Halifax.

Other news

Liz Turner celebrated her 60th birthday with a QP of Grandsire Caters, the first on the newly installed 10 bells at Kirkham St Michael, our Guild members were in the band.

Angela Collins celebrated her 50th birthday.

Helen Knight enjoyed her first Ladies Guild QP.

Melissa Villiers passed her driving test but stayed environmentally friendly and cycled the 30 miles to Halifax where her bike ended up locked in the Minster!

North West District report for 2017

The North West District covers a large geographical area. We have 14 members and met three times during the year and enjoyed some successful ringing and good companionship.

Meetings

28th January. Ringing took place at Todmorden St. Mary's and Todmorden Unitarian, with lunch at the White Hart. Organised by Christine Silkstone.

29th April. Following a QP at Bilsborrow and lunch at Galgate Marina, members joined the LACR AGM ringing at Lancaster Cathedral, Lancaster Priory, Cockerham and Pilling. Organised by Dawn Neville.

29th July. Ringing at Standish and Parbold was well attended. Organised by Celia Hughes D’Eath.

The District hosted a National Guild weekend in Liverpool in September. Members joined the practice at Pier Head on the Friday evening. Four Quarter Peals were scored at Penny Lane on the Saturday and members then joined the Liverpool Cathedral practice. An evening meal was taken at the Philharmonic Dining rooms and the weekend was rounded off with members joining service ringing on the Sunday morning. The event was such a success there are plans for another in Halifax in October 2018. NW members taking part were Celia Hughes D’Eath, Christine Silkstone, Jane Lynch, Catherine Wilding and Dawn Neville.

Other news

On 21st January 2017 Dawn strapped the tenor (82cwt) at Liverpool Cathedral for a quarter peal of Little Bob Maximus.

Chris Silkstone celebrated her 60th birthday in February, a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples was scored, four members were in the band.

Viv Clayton celebrated her 60th birthday in September, two quarter peals were scored: Grandsire Triples and Plain Bob Major. Three members were in the band and the Grandsire was conducted by LG member Dawn Neville, something she attributes to fellow member Jean Barnes for encouraging her to have a go at conducting all those years ago!

Debra Holmes celebrated her 60th birthday in September.

Dawn Neville celebrated her 50th birthday in November with a quarter peal of Yorkshire Major, three members were in the band.

North West District report for 2016

The North West District covers a large geographical area. We have 14 members and met three times through the year where we enjoyed some successful ringing and good companionship.

We met on 30th January 2016 and visited three towers, Eccles, Salford Sacred Trinity, lunch and Manchester Cathedral where we also held our ADM. There was no change to our District officers, I had tendered my resignation due to increasing commitment elsewhere however our members rallied round and offered to organise our meetings and I would take a single point of contact role and continue to prepare our Annual Report entry.

We had to forego our 30th April meeting as it clashed with the LACR AGM and instead met on 30th July. Viv organised the day out and writes: It was a lovely sunny day when 12 of us met up on 30th July 2016 in Bronte country. Our towers in the morning were Haworth and Keighley, and ringing was enjoyed by all. We had a lovely lunch at the Dog and Gun, Oxenhope. (considerable research had taken place prior to this date to find the best eating place in the area!!). The only drama of the day was at Keighley, where two of us forgot to duck going in the low doorway, and arrived in the ringing room rubbing our heads! We were informed that nobody has ever done that before - typical! The afternoon ringing was held at Oxenhope and finally Heptonstall, where nobody wanted to leave as the bells were so good to ring.

Our next meeting should have been in October, Chris who organised it writes: Unfortunately the planned meeting around Chester on 29th October did not take place as too many members had other commitments. Given that the next fifth Saturday was New Years Eve, it was decided that was not a good date and therefore a meeting was arranged for 28th January. Ringing took place at Todmorden St. Mary's and Todmorden Unitarian, with lunch in between at the White Hart. I understand that the day was a success but unfortunately I was ill and spent the day in bed!

We rang two successful quarters in 2106 (at Blackburn and Standish, listed here) and made a valiant (but failed) attempt at Julie McDonnell Doubles.

Dawn Neville, Secretary

North West District report for 2015

The North West District covers a large geographical area and therefore presents some challenges, in terms of choosing suitable venues without too much travelling, for members at our furthermost points. That said, we have met four times through the year and had some successful ringing and good companionship. We ring at two towers either side of lunch during the winter months and have full day outings at four towers during the summer.

Meetings We met on:

31st January 2015, Padiham and Burnley.

30 May at Penny Lane, SFX, Tuebrook (nearly a lock out, but local knowledge and a sprint to the vicarage saved the day!) and Bootle. At SFX we rang three leads of Bristol Major – a huge achievement for us!

29 August at Goosnargh, Ribchester and Whalley. Ribchester was where the NW District held its first ever meeting.

29th November 2015 at Brindle and St Silas, Blackburn with an option to join the Blackburn Branch meeting afterwards at Darwen, with 5 members doing just that.

Other newsThe Ladies Guild holiday was based in the NW in May and several of our members were made most welcome and able to join in the ringing. The lower of all 12 at Preston Minster was most pleasurable and a first at that location for me.

Three of our members were able to attend the AGM in June and were made most welcome by fellow Guild members in Leominster.

Our Treasurer Anne Pettifor was ordained as Priest on 28th June 2015.

Members of the Guild entered a scratch band in the Lancashire Association 8 bell striking competition at Ramsbottom on 3 Oct and successfully completed our test piece despite a few wobbles during the practice!

I called my first Quarter Peal, Grandsire Triples on 5 Sept. Unfortunately not for the Guild (although there were 4 Guild members in the band) but hopefully I will put my new found skill to use as we aim to ring regular NW District Ladies Guild Quarters throughout 2016.

It feels like we’ve had a successful year in the NW District with several new members and lots of enthusiasm.

North West District report for 2014

The North West District covers a large geographical area and therefore presents some challenges, in terms of choosing suitable venues without too much travelling, for members at our furthermost points.

During the year we changed our meeting format for our quarterly meetings. Having previously met on a Monday evening once a quarter, we changed to the 5th Saturday in the four months which have one. This has proved very popular and numbers attending and membership have subsequently increased. Our ringing master stood down from the role and at our March 2014 ADM we agreed to run a democratic system for ringing master duties. This has given different members the ability to try the role and in turn grow in confidence.

In March 2014 we visited Langdale and Hawkshead

In May 2014 the sun shone on us and we enjoyed an outing to Cheshire ringing at Bowden, Mobberley (where the ringing room is split level) Nether Alderley and Stretton.

In August we had yet another gloriously sunny day for our outing to Yorkshire ringing at Skipton, Addingingham, Kildwick and Kirby Malham.

Even our meeting in November was blessed with good weather as we rang at Higher Walton, Walton Le Dale and Preston. Members of the Guild along with two guests, female members of the Lancashire Association, went on to take part in the Lancashire Association 10 bell striking competition that afternoon, coming a creditable 3rd place. (Manchester 102 faults, Preston 104 faults, Ladies Guild 142 faults). We more than exceeded our aim, which was to complete the test piece!

There were many things to celebrate in the District during the year. On 29 June our Treasurer, was ordained at Carlisle Cathedral. On 27 July one of our members married a fellow ringer whom she met in the Tower at Hoghton. We are pleased to register ringing two quarter peals, one of which was rung for the service of celebration for the ordination of women.

It feels like we've had a successful year in the NW District with several new members and lots of enthusiasm for the new meeting format. Let's hope the sun holds out for the Ladies Guild holiday which visits the North West in May 2015.